Changes

==Background==

==Background==

An [[Eagle Scout]], Farabee graduated from Wichita Falls High School and then obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. He and his wife, the former Terri Nan Salmon, have three children, Worth, Nancy, and Russell R. Farabee. He is affiliated with the [[United Methodist]] Church. He is a former president of the Wichita Falls Optimist Club.<ref name=vsmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=25518|title=Rep. David Farabee (Texas)|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=January 17, 2020}}</ref>​

An [[Eagle Scout]], Farabee graduated from Wichita Falls High School and then obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. He and his wife, the former Terri Nan Salmon, have three children, Worth, Nancy, and Russell R. Farabee. He is affiliated with the [[United Methodist]] Church. He is a former president of the Wichita Falls Optimist Club.<ref name=vsmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=25518|title=Rep. David Farabee (Texas)|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=January 17, 2020}}</ref>​

 

His late mother, [[Helen Farabee]], is the namesake of the state mental health facility in Wichita Falls, Graham in Young County and Quanah in Hardeman County. The senior Farabee left the state Senate after thirteen years to become general counsel for the [[University of Texas]] System.<ref name=farabee/> Farabee's father-in-law, Bill Presson, is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] commissioner in Wichita County.<ref name=wichita>{{cite web|url=http://www.davidfarabee.com/news/2009/09/16/our-opinion-farabee-its-the-man-not-the-party/#more-330|title=Our opinion: Farabee: "It's the man, not the party|date=September 16, 2009|publisher=''Wichita Falls Record News'' in davidfarabee.com|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref> When Democratic state legislators known as the Killer D's fled to Ardmore, [[Oklahoma]] in 2003 to prevent a House [[quorum]] regarding congressional [[redistricting]], many of Farabee's constituents were said to have been particularly aware for perhaps the first time that he is a Democrat.<ref name=wichita/>​

His late mother, [[Helen Farabee]], is the namesake of the state mental health facility in Wichita Falls, Graham in Young County and Quanah in Hardeman County. The senior Farabee left the state Senate after thirteen years to become general counsel for the [[University of Texas]] System.<ref name=farabee/> Farabee's father-in-law, Bill Presson, is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] commissioner in Wichita County.<ref name=wichita>{{cite web|url=http://www.davidfarabee.com/news/2009/09/16/our-opinion-farabee-its-the-man-not-the-party/#more-330|title=Our opinion: Farabee: "It's the man, not the party|date=September 16, 2009|publisher=''Wichita Falls Record News'' in davidfarabee.com|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref> When Democratic state legislators known as the Killer D's fled to Ardmore, [[Oklahoma]] in 2003 to prevent a House [[quorum]] regarding congressional [[redistricting]], many of Farabee's constituents were said to have been particularly aware for perhaps the first time that he is a Democrat.<ref name=wichita/>​

 

==Legislative career==​

==Legislative career==

 

In 1998, Farabee won his seat, then considered one of the most Republican-leaning districts in the Texas House that was represented at this time by a Democrat.<ref name=farabee>{{cite web|url=http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/oct/03/mcneely-rep-david-farabee-retiring-blow-democrats/|title=McNeely: Rep. David Farabee retiring a blow for Democrats|title=October 5, 2009|author=''Abilene Reporter-News''|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref> Wichita Falls [[Mayor]] Lanham Lyne defeated a Democrat named Michael L. Smith, 74-26 percent, to win Farabee's seat in the November 2 general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/nov02_154_state.htm|title=General election returns, November 2, 2010|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=November 7, 2010}}</ref> Farabee himself had estimated that a Democrat expecting to hold the seat would need to raise at least $250,000.<ref name=farabee/>​ Lyne did not seek a second term in 2010.

In 1998, Farabee won his seat, then considered one of the most Republican-leaning districts in the Texas House that was represented at this time by a Democrat.<ref name=farabee>{{cite web|url=http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/oct/03/mcneely-rep-david-farabee-retiring-blow-democrats/|title=McNeely: Rep. David Farabee retiring a blow for Democrats|title=October 5, 2009|author=''Abilene Reporter-News''|accessdate=November 27, 2009}}</ref> Wichita Falls [[Mayor]] Lanham Lyne defeated a Democrat named Michael L. Smith, 74-26 percent, to win Farabee's seat in the November 2 general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/nov02_154_state.htm|title=General election returns, November 2, 2010|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=November 7, 2010}}</ref> Farabee himself had estimated that a Democrat expecting to hold the seat would need to raise at least $250,000.<ref name=farabee/>​ Lyne did not seek a second term in 2010.

In his initial election in 1998, Farabee was unopposed for the Democratic nomination in District 69 when the Democratic incumbent, John Hirschi, did not seek reelection. He defeated the Republican Ronald S. Buffum (born 1945), then of Wichita Falls, 14,207 votes (56.1 percent) to 11,130 (43.9 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 1998.</ref>​

In his initial election in 1998, Farabee was unopposed for the Democratic nomination in District 69 when the Democratic incumbent, John Hirschi, did not seek reelection. He defeated the Republican Ronald S. Buffum (born 1945), then of Wichita Falls, 14,207 votes (56.1 percent) to 11,130 (43.9 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 3, 1998.</ref>​

Republicans left Farabee unopposed in 2008, and the Democrat garnered more than 58 percent of the vote in 2006 against a [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] and a Republican, Shirley Craft, who had also lost to Farabee in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasweekly.com/newsletter/tw20061113.html|title="Texas Weekly: The Eye of the Storm", November 13, 2006|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}</ref> State Representative Mark Strama, an Austin Democrat, said that his party can win District 69. He recalled that in 2006 the Democrats held the [[West Texas]] state House seat vacated by former [[Speaker]] James E. "Pete" Laney. Joseph P. Heflin, the [[county judge]] in Crosbyton, narrowly defeated a young Republican [[insurance]] agent from Plainview in Hale County,  [[Jim Landtroop]], who had considerable support from the state's [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] leaders.<ref name=farabee/> Landtroop rebounded in 2010 to deny Heflin a third term in the legislature but was himself unseated in 2012 in the runoff election by the [[Moderate Republican]] Ken King of Canadian in Hemphill County.​

Republicans left Farabee unopposed in 2008, and the Democrat garnered more than 58 percent of the vote in 2006 against a [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] and a Republican, Shirley Craft, who had also lost to Farabee in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasweekly.com/newsletter/tw20061113.html|title="Texas Weekly: The Eye of the Storm", November 13, 2006|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}</ref> State Representative Mark Strama, an Austin Democrat, said that his party can win District 69. He recalled that in 2006 the Democrats held the [[West Texas]] state House seat vacated by former [[Speaker]] James E. "Pete" Laney. Joseph P. Heflin, the [[county judge]] in Crosbyton, narrowly defeated a young Republican [[insurance]] agent from Plainview in Hale County,  [[Jim Landtroop]], who had considerable support from the state's [[Republican Party (United States)|GOP]] leaders.<ref name=farabee/> Landtroop rebounded in 2010 to deny Heflin a third term in the legislature but was himself unseated in 2012 in the runoff election by the [[Moderate Republican]] Ken King of Canadian in Hemphill County.​